Device for the determination of blood clotting by capacitance or resistance
First Claim
1. A device for measuring a viscosity of a sample of a liquid, the device consisting essentially of:
- (a) a test chamber for receiving a test portion of the sample of the liquid, said test chamber featuring walls for defining an interior space of said test chamber;
(b) a pair of electrodes disposed on said walls of said test chamber(c) a capacitance measuring circuit for measuring a capacitance of said test portion of the sample within said test chamber between said electrodes, such that said capacitance directly reflects a volume occupied by said test portion of the sample of the liquid; and
(d) a clock for measuring a predetermined time period after said test chamber receives said liquid, such that said amount of said capacitance is determined after said predetermined time period has elapsed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor device (10) and a method for measuring a viscosity of a sample of a liquid. The sensor features a chamber (12) for receiving the sample of the liquid, two electrodes (18) disposed either on the surfaces of the chamber, but possibly isolated from contacting the sample, or electrodes located externally to the chamber, and a capacitance measuring circuit (25). The sensor is used by connecting to a measurer for determining a capacitance on the electrodes, such that the capacitance directly reflects a volume occupied by the sample of the liquid. Preferably, the liquid is blood and the capacitance is used to determine the clotting time of the blood. Also preferably, a cover for the chamber is provided with at least one aperture, which more preferably is a mesh. Alternatively, an electrical property such as the amplitude of current passed through the sample is used to determine clotting time. Also preferably, the time period required for the maximum capacitance to be reached could be measured. Alternatively, the capacitance could be measured after a fixed time period (34) had elapsed. Also alternatively, the time period required for the maximum current to be reached could be measured, or the amount of current could be measured after a fixed time period had elapsed. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a kit for measuring the clotting time of blood is provided. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, methods are provided for using the kit and device of the present invention.
68 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A device for measuring a viscosity of a sample of a liquid, the device consisting essentially of:
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(a) a test chamber for receiving a test portion of the sample of the liquid, said test chamber featuring walls for defining an interior space of said test chamber; (b) a pair of electrodes disposed on said walls of said test chamber (c) a capacitance measuring circuit for measuring a capacitance of said test portion of the sample within said test chamber between said electrodes, such that said capacitance directly reflects a volume occupied by said test portion of the sample of the liquid; and (d) a clock for measuring a predetermined time period after said test chamber receives said liquid, such that said amount of said capacitance is determined after said predetermined time period has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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20. A device for measuring a viscosity of a sample of a liquid, the device consisting essentially of:
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(a) a test chamber for receiving a test portion of the sample of the liquid, said test chamber featuring walls for defining an interior space of said test chamber; (b) a pair of electrodes disposed on said walls of said test chamber; (c) a capacitance measuring circuit for measuring a capacitance of said test portion of the sample within said test chamber between said electrodes such that said capacitance directly reflects a volume occupied by said test portion of the sample of the liquid; and (d) a clock for measuring a period of time required for said amount of said capacitance to reach a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification